In the winter of 1858, John Brown had recently returned from the East where he had obtained the money to finance his raid on Harpers Ferry in October of 1859. The Harpers ferry plans and resources were in place. As a last blow against slavery in the west, John Brown and a small band of men rode into Missouri and liberated 11 slaves. They killed one slave holder in the process. Brown and his men took wagons, cows, horses and provisions from these salve holders.  

The author tells about this 3 month arduous trek across the Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa and Illinois countryside. The nation, in 1858, watched and followed along with this adventure because one of Brown's men, Henry Kagi, was a New York reporter.

The author names the places where Brown's party stopped for help and safety. The reader will learn about how pacifist abolitionists were critical of Brown for the raid's stealing and killing.

The escaping slaves were witnesses to a fugitive giving birth to a baby being born in freedom. They witnessed Topeka Underground Railroad supporters ride in to Brown's rescue at the Battle of the Spurs, just north of Holton, Kansas. The fugitives saw 200 Sharps Rifles stored in an Iowa preacher's basement for John Brown.  The party experienced the hospitality of Iowa Quakers as well as their criticism for the bloodshed. The reader learns that Allan Pinkerton was a part of the Underground Railroad and helped John Brown.